Sinfin trader guilty of selling ‘dangerous’ cigarettes

Derby City Council Trading standards recently investigated a case concerning cigarettes which would not extinguish as they should. They were part of a seizure of tobacco products for which a Sinfin Lane businessman, Mr Mohammed Latif, pleaded guilty of possession and selling.

The cigarettes failed a safety standard for “ignition propensity”. They also failed to be marked by the producer with the UK health warnings required by law. In addition, some were counterfeit cigarettes for which duty had not been paid.

Mr Mohammed Latif of 4 Provident Street, Derby was prosecuted by Derby City Council Trading Standards which found the contraband in a shop and garage premises known as Zielona Zabka at 17 Sinfin Lane on 9 March this year.

The case was heard at Derby Magistrate’s Court on 20 October 2016 which ordered the forfeiture and destruction of the 5,340 cigarettes, 1.1kg of hand rolling tobacco and a bottle of Vodka. Mr Mohammed Latif was sentenced to fines and costs totalling £3,671.20.

“Not only were these cigarettes and tobacco avoiding tax, they were dangerous and could have caused serious injury or worse. Our Trading Standards team will continue seek out and prosecute unscrupulous sellers of illegal tobacco.”